Book Review: Thrill Power Overload: The First Forty Years

It's a bit of a different book review today as I recently completed Thrill Power Overload from 2000 AD, a look at the history of my favourite comic and the creators of Judge Dredd. Here are the details:

Details

Title: Thrill Power Overload: The First Forty Years

Author: David Bishop & Karl Stock

Publisher: Rebellion Publishing Limited

Type: Hardback Book

Page Count: 400

Fluff: The definitive history of the most influential British comic ever!

From 2000 AD's humble and rocky beginnings to its current position as the Galaxy’s Greatest comic, Thrill-Power Overload charts the incredible history of this ground-breaking comic. With exclusive interviews, hundreds of illustrations and rarely-seen artwork, former 2000 AD editor David Bishop and journalist Karl Stock guide the reader through four decades of action, adventure, excitement and the occasional editorial nightmare!

Told by the people who were there, this is the definitive history of the comic that launched a thousand talents including legends such as John Wagner, Pat Mills, Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, Carlos Ezquerra, Brian Bolland, Dave Gibbons, Mick McMahon, Grant Morrison, Kevin O'Neill, Simon Bisley and continues with 21st Century breakthrough talents such as Jock, Rob Williams, Andy Diggle, Al Ewing, Henry Flint, Frazer Irving - and many many more.

Unfiltered, uncensored, and with remarkable frankness, Thrill-Power Overload demonstrates how 2000 AD’s creators went on to change not only British comics but also the American comic book industry and its multi-billion dollar movie franchises.

Review

First up, this is a weighty book. Printed in hardback and made in a size that fails to fit most standard bookcases, this book is to be feared! Charting the successes, failures and in-between stages of 2000 AD's life. If you are not a fan of 2000 AD (the shame), I recommend skipping this book; I am sure it would be dull to the uninterested. For me, the true highlights of this book are the pretty pictures and the walk down memory lane.

We learn of the magazine's inception and how it soon started absorbing other British comics into its franchise. We also learn of some of the hard-to-believe rocky moments that could have led to its demise before finally hitting the here and now of how it is going from strength to strength with the help of Rebellion Publishing. But as I mentioned, the artwork in the book steals the show as it showcases characters from across the 40 years and explains why they exist and, in many cases, why they no longer exist.

This book is jam-packed with interviews and quotes from artists, designers, editors, and comic fans, which help give the text some real character compared to a DC history book. The interviewees are candid, sometimes hilarious and sometimes painfully blunt in their opinions. It's interesting to read how the creative energy ebbed and waned throughout the years and how honest they are. It is truly a refreshing read.

As I mentioned, this piece is for 2000 AD or comic book fans. But for me, it was a peek behind the scenes of one of my favourite comics, and it changed my viewpoint on the comic and made me appreciate the team behind it even more.

Have you read the piece? Please drop me a comment and let me know. Thanks for reading.